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A  DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED  IN   THE 


SECOND  PRESBYTEPdAN  CHURCH,  ELIZABETH,  N.J. 


August  6th,   1863. 


OS   OCCASION    OF 


THE  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING 

APPOINTED    BY 

ABRAHAM   LINCOLN, 

PRESIDENT     OF     THE     UNITED     STATES, 


T(J    COMMEMORATE    THE    SIGNAL    VICTORIES 
VOUCHSAFED  TO  THE  FEDERAL  ARMS. 


n 


BY 


Rev.  DAVID  MAGIE,  D.D. 


PRINTED  BY  FRANCIS  HART  &  CO.  63  CORTLANDT  STREET 

1863. 


AiXL^' 


-e==^ 


I 


A  DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED   IN   THE 


SECOND  IMIESRYTERIAN  CHURCH.  ELIZABETH,  N.J. 

August   Otii,    18G3. 


ON  OCCASION    OF 


THE  PUBLIC  THANKSGIVING 


APPOINTED   BY 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN, 

PRESIDENT     OF     THE     V  M  T  E  U     STATES, 


TO    COMMEMORATE    THE    SIGNAL    VICTORIES 
VOUCHSAFED  TO  THE  FEDERAL  ARMS. 


BY 


Rev.  DAVID  MAGIE,  D.D. 


f  £fa-|ork  : 

PRINTED  BY  FRANCIS  HART  &  CO.  63  CORTLANDT  STREET. 

1863. 


MA7ci 


Elizabeth.  August.  6,  1863. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  undersigned  having  heard,  with  great  pleasure,  the  sermon 
delivered  by  you  this  day,  on  the  occasion  of  the  National  Thanksgiving, 
and  believing  that  its  publication  will  greatly  serve  the  cause  of  truth  and 
of  the  Union,  do  respectfully  request  a  copy  for  publication. 

Very  truly  yours, 

F.  W.  FOOTE,  JAMES  C.  WOODRUFF, 

D.  H.  PIERSON,  AUGUSTUS  C.  KELLOGG, 

A.  W.  KELLOGG,  M.  W.  HALSEY, 

J.  R.  BURNET,  J.  S,  CRANE, 

J.  W.  PRICE,  JOHN  McCORD, 

WILMOT  WILLIAMS. 

To  the  Rev.  Dk.  Magie. 


Gentlemf.n  : 

Your  request,  though  entirely  unexpected,  is  especially  pleasant  to 
me,  as  it  represents  four  of  the  churches  ot  our  city,  and  1  accede  to  it,  not 
only  as  f  am  thus  afi-'orded  an  opportunity  of  leaving,  in  a  permanent  Form, 
my  views  of  public  affairs,  but  because  1  hope  to  be  of  some  little  use  to 
my  fellow  citizens,  in  removing  misapprehension  and  preventing  discour- 
agement. 

With  sentiments  of  high  regard,  yours, 

DAVID  MAGIE.    ' 
Messrs.  Foort,  Pierson,  &c. 


EEASONS  FOR   THANKSGIVING. 


The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  is  exalted ;  the  right  hand  of 
the  Lord  doeth  valiantly. 

Psalm  cxvni:  16. 


As  good  citizens  jou  have  read  and  re-read  the  excellent 
proclamation  of  our  Chief  Magistrate.  It  has  been  your 
privilege  to  ponder  with  imdissembled  gratitude  to  God, 
the  wonderful  successes  which  have  recently  crowned 
our  arms ;  mingle  your  sympatliies  with  the  suiferers 
in  this  needless  and  cruel  rebellion ;  offer  your  earnest 
prayers  that  God  would  change  the  hearts  of  the  insur- 
gents ;  and  devoutly  ask  that  the  whole  nation  might  be 
led,  through  paths  of  repentance  and  submission  to  the 
divine  will,  l)ack  to  the  perfect  enjoyment  of  union  and 
fraternal  peace.  This  you  have  already  done  and  are 
daily  doing,  but  now  you  are  asseml^led  to  perform 
the  same  duty  in  a  more  public  manner.  In  conformity 
with  the  President's  appointment,  endorsed  and  confirmed 
by  the  Governor  of  our  own  state,  we  are  assembled  to 
join  in  a  more  open  and  emphatic  acknowledgment  of 
the  goodness  of  God,  and  present  our  supjDlications  for 


6  REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

the  return  of  trHn(|uillit>-  to  our  bleeding  and  distraeted 
eonntry. 

The  serviee  is  certainly  called  for,  and  the  words  just 
repeated,  "  The  rioht  hand  of  the  Lord  is  exalted,  the 
rio-ht  hand  of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly."  "ive  iust  such 
direction  to  our  thouohts  as  thev  oug-ht  to  tak<\  Nothinff 
could  he  more  Ijeautiful  tlian  the  sentiment  here  con- 
veyed, and  nothino-  could  l)e  more  beautifully  expressed. 
It  takes  the  entire  glory  of  any  good  achieved  from  the 
creature,  whose  hreath  is  in  his  nostrils,  and  who  is  not 
to  be  accounted  of,  and  gives  it  where  alone  it  is  due,  to 
the  Creator. 

Only  little  more  than  three  months  ago,  we  were 
summoned  as  a  nation  to  unite  in  fasting  and  prayer. 
Disappointments,  delays  and  defeats  had  spread  a  degree 
of  gloom  over  the  public  mind,  so  that  men  usually 
strong  and  of  good  courage,  seemed  for  the  time 
depressed ;  and  this  gloom  was  subsequently  deepened 
by  an  invasion,  skilfully  planned,  and  of  most  })ortentous 
aspects.  P)Ut  within  the  last  five  and  thiity  days  how 
surprisingly  has  the  tide  of  affairs  turned.  One  exploit 
has  followed  another  in  such  ra))id  siucession  that  every 
patriotic  bosom  is  filled  with  gratitude,  and  we  are  all 
ready  to  say  to  each  other,  "O  give  thanks  unto  the 
Lord,  for  he  is  good,  for  his  mercy  endureth  forever. 
Serve  him  with  gladness  and  come  before  his.  presence 
with  singing." 

The  message  is  specific,  referring  to  the  signal  victories 
which  God  has  lately  vouchsafed  to  our  army  and  navy; 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING,  7 

but  it  will  not  be  deemed  aiiiiss  if,  in  the  following 
discourse,  I  take  a  somewhat  wider  rang-e.  My  wish  is 
to  set  liefore  honest  and  thoughtful  minds  such  reasons 
for  gratitude  as  are  suggested  by  the  whole  subject  of 
the  war.  It  is  my  design,  in  pursuing  this  course,  to  do 
what  in  me  lies  to  decide  the  doubtful,  encourage  the 
timid,  and  lead  all  to  see  that  we  do  well  to-day  to 
enter  the  gates  of  the  Lord  with  thanksgiving,  and  his 
courts  with  praise. 

1.  The  Cause  in  which  we  are  embarked,  we  have 
good  reason  to  be  assured,  is  a  just  and  righteous  one. 
It  was  not  to  oppress  our  southern  neighbors,  or  wrest 
from  them  a  shigle  privilege  guaranteed  by  the  Consti- 
tution, that  the  sword  was  drawn  in  the  first  instance. 
Never  was  there  a  clearer  case  of  simple  resistance  to 
aggression.  We  stand,  in  this  respect,  on  a  noble  pre- 
eminence, and  may  challenge  the  world  to  prove  that  we 
are  wrong.  Were  it  otherwise,  had  we  conspired  against 
what  are  called  the  Confederate  States,  to  arrest  their 
course  in  the  enjoyment  of  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness,  or  had  we  neglected  to  fulfil  towards  them 
all  the  obligations  imposed  u[)on  us  ]jy  our  National 
Compact,  it  would  be  but  solemn  mockery  to  raise  a 
voice  in  tliaiiksgiving  to-day,  no  matter  how  great  our 
successes.  Examine  the  Journals  of  Congress  from  the 
beginning,  including  the  whole  history  of  Executive  acts, 
and  see  if  they  do  not  furnish  a  perfectly  clear  record. 
Much,  I  know,  is  said  by  the  South  itself,  and  by  south- 
ern sympathizers,  of  the  oppression  of  the  North,  and  we 


8  REASONS    FOR   THANKSGIVING. 

need  to  pause,  even  at  so  late  a  day,  to  enfjuire  into  the 
truth  (if  the  constantly  reiterated  allcf^ations.  Did  tliis 
dreadful  war  begin  by  those  who  struck  the  fatal  blow 
in  defense  of  tlieir  own  ris^hts.  oi-  was  it  a  wanton  attack 
on  the  rii^-hts  of  others  I 

You  have  heard  the  only  true  answer  a  thousand 
times,  and  yet  it  is  necessary,  for  the  sake  of  disproving- 
false  assertions,  to  re})eat  it  again  and  again.  Kecur, 
then,  to  the  acknowledg-ed  fact,  that  t1i(^  control  of  the 
government  of  the  country  had,  for  years  and  years, 
been  ahnost  exclusively  in  the  hands  of  Southern  men, 
or  of  those  openly  friendlv  to  Southern  views  and  inter- 
ests, and  its  patronage  and  j)ower  were  wielded  very 
much  in  accordance  with  their  avowed  wishes.  For  this 
end,  and  without  pretense  of  disguise,  compromises  were 
made  and  compromises  were  annulled,  lines  of  demarka- 
tion  were  drawn,  and  lines  were  blotted  out.  Concession 
upon  concession  was  granted  to  soften  the  asperity, 
conciliate  the  regard,  and  ])revent  the  execution  of  the 
threats  of  men  who  were  forever  affirming  that  they 
must  have  and  would  have  what  they  demanded,  or 
dismember  this  happy  and  prosperous  commonwealth. 
Often  was  it  foretold  l)y  the  wise  and  the  true,  and  now 
it  is  known  to  be  a  fact,  that  their  jnirpose  was  either  to 
rule  or  ruin,  either  to  subject  the  nation  to  their  own 
selfish  designs  or  destroy  it.  Tlie  charge  is  a  serious 
one,  and  yet  the  testimony  to  substantiate  it  is  as  clear 
as  the  sun  in  the  firmament,  and  must  ])e  Ijrought  for- 
ward, for  it  sets  the  rebellion  in  its  only  fair  and  ]n'(^per 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  \) 

light.  That  you  may  see  that  my  language  is  no 
stronger  than  facts  justify,  let  me  turn  you  for  a  moment, 
to  evidence  furnished  by  a  leading  man  of  themselves. 
Mr.  'Stephens,  since  made  the  Vice-President  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  A^■arned  the  Georgia  Convention, 
called  to  consider  the  propriety  of  seceding,  of  the  folly 
and  wickedness  of  any  such  suicidal  act.  "  Pause,  I  en- 
treat you,"  his  very  words  are,  "and  think  for  a  moment 
what  reasons  you  can  give  that  will  satisfy  yourselves, 
in  calmer  times,  or  what  reasons  you  can  give  to  your 
fellow-sufferers,  for  the  calamities  which  secession  w^ill 
surely  bring  upon  us  I  What  cause  or  overt  act  can  you 
name  or  point  to,  on  which  to  rest  the  plea  of  justification? 
What  right  of  ours  has  the  North  assailed  ?  AYhat  interest 
of  the  South  has  it  invaded  I  What  justice  has  been  de- 
nied us  ?  What  claim,  founded  in  right,  has  ever  been 
withheld  I  Can  any  of  you  to-day,  name  one  act, 
deliberately  and  purposely  done  by  the  government  at 
Washington,  of  which  the  South  has  the  right  to  com- 
plain ?  I  challenge  the  answer.  Now,  to  attempt  to 
overtlirow  such  a  government,  under  which  we  have 
lived  for  three-quarters  of  a  century,  and  gained  our 
wealth  and  standing  as  a  nation,  is  a  height  of  madness, 
folly,  and  wickedness,  to  which  I  can  neither  lend  my 
sanction  nor  my  vote."  Remember  this,  my  friends,  when 
you  hear  men,  northern  born,  and  northern  bred,  excus- 
ing the  rebels  as  an  oppressed  and  injured  people,  bereft 
of  their  rights. 

No,  it  is  not  true,  and  no  sophistry  can  make  it  appear 
2 

i 


10  llEASONS    FOK    THAKKSUlVIlS'G. 

true,  that  llie  Soutli  is  riiilit  niid  llie  North  is  wrong" 
ill  till-  treiiieiidoiis  coiitlict,  Avliii-h  is  iast  lilliiii;'  the 
hmd  with  w  iddws  and  witli  orphans.  Did  I  not  l)eli(  ve 
in  my  lieart,  that  the  way  uii  lair  part  is  a  righteoUs  one, 
entered  upon  strietly  in  self  detenee,  not  to  eneroach  on 
others,  but  to  upliohl  our  very  existence  as  a  Union  and 
a  constitutional  <j^overnnieiit,  it  would  be  no  satisfaction  to 
me  to  read  of  the  glorious  victories  which  have  recently 
crowned  our  arms.  Success  based  on  fraud,  and  secured 
at  the  expense  of  trampling-  on  the  most  sacred  oaths 
aud  obligations,  may  dazzle  and  deceive  for  awhile, 
but  in  the  end  will  come  to  nought.  The  people  of  the 
North  declared  their  convictions  in  unnn'stakable  tones, 
the  moment  they  learned  that  the  Hag-  of  the  nation  had 
been  insulted,  its  treasures  seized,  its  forts  captured,  and 
its  authority  set  at  defiance,  and  nothing-  has  occurred 
to  falsify  these  convictions.  Not  a  few  of  those  who 
had  all  along  acted  w  ith  the  South,  and  w^ere  reg-arded, 
l)y  way  of  emphasis,  her  friends,  were  compelled  now 
by  the  sheer  force,  we  trust,  of  honest  reflection,  openly 
to  change  ground.  Thousands  of  the  most  earnest 
peace  men  were  ready  to  say  that  the  w  icked  strife 
could  never,  never  cease  until  the  stars  aud  stripes  of 
the  old  union  were  seen  to  float  again  over  every  city 
and  fortress  in  the  land. 

How  was  this,  Init  from  a  conviction  deeply  fixed  in 
every  bosom,  that  the  movement  of  the  South  was  a 
rebellion  of  the  w'orst  possible  sort,  a  rebellion  against 
the  most  paternal  government  under  heaven  i     Subse- 


REASONS    FOE    THANKSGIVING.  11 

qiient  events,  and  especially  the  slow  progress  made  in 
subduing  those  who  had  risen  up  against  us,  united  with 
the  adoption  of  certain  measures  which  happened  to  be 
distasteful,  because  they  happened  to  strike  at  a  few 
bold  and  reckless  breeders  of  sedition,  changed  the 
opinions  of  some,  who,  perhaps,  were  never  very  hearty 
in  the  cause.  But  could  these  things,  however  inexpe- 
dient, change  the  nature  of  great  principles,  or  make 
fraud  honesty  ?  If  the  war  was  forced  upon  us,  as  Vice 
President  Stephens  in  another  place  observes,  by  ambi- 
tious and  disappointed  politicians,  how  could  a  few 
incidental. stretches  of  power  on  the  part  of  the  govern- 
ment, alter  the  case  ?  The  President  was  elected  in 
all  respects,  according  to  due  form  of  law,  and  an 
attempt  to  dismember  the  Union  because  he  was 
supposed  to  hold  particular  political  ojjinions,  could  be 
branded  by  no  softer  name  than  treason.  So  it  is 
called  by  thousands  of  pure  patriots  and  good  men,  and 
so  it  will  be  called  when  this  war  shall  only  be  known 
as  pages  of  history,  on  which  posterity  will  bring  in  a 
verdict. 

Most  fully  do  I  believe,  after  looking  at  the  subject 
in  all  its  lights,  that  it  was  demanded  of  us  by  a  high 
sense  of  duty  to  repel  tlie  attacks  made,  just  as  a  man 
ought  to  defend  his  house  against  the  midnight  plun- 
derer. And  what  is  there  in  such  a  contest  like  con- 
scious rectitude,  or  as  the  Apostle  better  expresses  it, 
the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  to  sustain  the  mind 
in  the  hour  of  trial.     "  I  liad  rather  be   right  than  be 


12  REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

President  of  the  United  States,"  was  the  noble  remark 
of  the  great  Henry  Clay,  and  if  we  are  only  right  in 
this  fearful  quarrel,  we  can  bear  teniporar)^  defeat  and 
disaster,  assured  tliat  in  the  end  God  will  vindicate  his 
ways  to  men.  Is  it  not  matter  of  gratitude,  then,  that 
we  do  not  wage  war  to  destroy,  but  to  preserve,  not  to 
dismember,  but  to  keep  together,  not  to  overturn  tlie 
government,  but  to  uphold  it?  Were  it  not  so  we  might 
well  hang  our  heads  for  shame,  and  retire  from  this 
sacred  place  to  smite  upon  our  breasts  and  deprecate 
the  anger  of  a  righteous  God. 

2.  Lessons  have  been  taught  us  incidentally  since  the 
war  began,  oi  great  and  i)ermantiit  value. 

Our  country  is  now  going  through  an  experience 
which  must  tell  u})on  us  for  weal  or  woe  during  ages  to 
come,  and  there  is  good  reason  to  hope  that  the  effect 
will  be  happy.  God  is  chastising  us  very  severely  for 
our  sins  against  himself,  if  not  against  our  southern 
brethren  ;  but  it  is  in  mercy  we  trust,  and  not  in  wrath, 
lest  we  should  be  consumed.  Days  of  severe  and  pro- 
tracted trial,  are  often  the  very  days  which  establish 
principles,  which  form  character,  whicli  correct  abuses, 
which  remove  prejudices,  and  which  show  men  what  is 
in  them  of  both  o-ood  and  evil.  Individual  life  never 
grows  into  its  full  proportions,  in  the  midst  of  ease  and 
luxury,  and  self  indulgence;  and  the  same  is  true  of 
the  life  of  a  nation.  War  sets  hard  tasks  and  inflicts 
heavy  penalties,  but  like  the  storms  which  agitate  the 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  13 

air  and  destroy  noxious  vapors,  it  prepares  the  way  for 
the  enjoyment  of  a  better  peace,  and  a  safer  tranquillity. 
These  troubles  have  taught  us,  for  instance,  as  noth- 
ing else  ever  could,  that  government  is  of  God,  and  that 
to  resist  it  is  to  resist  one  of  his  express  ordinances.  It 
seems  strange  as  we  look  back  for  a  few  months,  that 
the  people  should  have  been  so  perfectly  asleep  on  a 
point  of  such  unspeakable  importance.  Up  to  the  very 
hour  when  the  rebellion  broke  out,  little  was  said, 
because  little  was  thought  of  the  clearly  inculcated  fact 
that  submission  to  the  powers  which  God  has  ordained, 
in  everything  not  clearly  condemned  by  the  Bible,  is 
one  of  the  very  first  duties  of  Christians  as  well  as  citi- 
zens. Everything  was  going  on  so  smoothly,  that  the 
pulpit  was  silent,  and  so  was  the  fireside,  and  so  was 
the  school  room,  and  so  was  the  lecturer's  desk.  The 
ruled  came  into  contact  with  their  rulers  at  so  few  points, 
and  these  associated  with  demands  on  the  one  hand  of 
so  little  consequence,  and  duties  on  the  other  so  easily 
discharged,  that  the  authority  of  government,  as  some- 
thing strong  and  tangible,  and  not  to  be  resisted,  was 
scarcely  realized  at  all  by  one  in  a  hundred  of  the 
people.  With  the  single  exception  of  making  some 
change  every  four  years,  not  so  much  of  principles  as 
of  men,  everything  was  suffered  to  go  on  very  much 
in  its  own  way.  If  the  mass  of  the  community  might 
but  buy  and  sell,  and  get  gain,  level  forests,  build  ships, 
and  lay  railroad  tracks,  found  cities,  open  new  channels 
of  trade,  and  fill  still  larger  coffers,  it   seemed  to   be  all 


14  REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

thtat  was  cared  for.  l>ut  tlie  first  wanton  l)low  at  the 
authority  of  the  govcrmiiont,  compelled  the  iiutting 
forth  of  every  latent  power,  in  assertion  of  its  preroga- 
tives. Men  l)egan  to  think  that  something  must  be 
meant,  far  beyond  what  they  had  given  themselves  the 
trouble  to  enquire  into,  by  magistrates  holding  the 
sword  in  such  a  way,  as  to  be  a  terror  to  evil  doers, 
and  a  praise  to  those  that  do  well.  IMore  has  been 
accomplished  in  this  short  space  of  time  to  educate  the 
nation  in  this  fundamental  maxim,  than  had  ever  been 
done  before.  We  are  learning  a  lesson,  it  is  hoped,  so 
as  never  to  need  a  repetition,  on  the  true  limits  between 
personal  liberty,  and  the  authority  which  every  govern- 
ment on  earth  nuist  exercise,  or  be  guilty  of  the  crime 
of  suicide.  All  must  go  by  the  board  the  moment  it  is 
admitted  that  any  one  man,  or  au}^  combinaticm  of  men 
may  decide  how  far  they  shall  obey,  and  when  they 
may  begin  to  disobey. 

Again,  as  tbe  war  progresses  we  are  all,  whatever  our 
jxditical  creeds  or  jrreferences,  fast  learning  to  c<uTect 
mistakes,  into  which  all  alike  had  fallen.  Many  a  fond 
tlieory  has  been  to])|)led  over  into  the  dust  by  the  r<>ugh 
logic  of  the  last  two  or  three  years'  events.  It  was 
imaoined  at  the  North  that  tlie  contest  must  be  short, 
inasmuch  as  we  had  a  vast  su])eriority  in  numbers  nnd 
wealth,  and  especially  as  there  was  a  whole  race  in  the 
South  to  which  war  would  bring,  it  was  su]1]ios(m1  as  a 
necessary  conse(pience,  the  ho])e  of  chains  burst  and 
privileges  of  freemen  enjoyed.     Almost  every  one  imag- 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  ,  15 

hied  tliat  a  fow  thousand  sokliers  summoned  to  the  field, 
as  on  a  kind  of  dress  parade,  woidd  set  matters  right. 
Hardly  could  it  be  believed  that  three  or  four  miUions 
of  people,  ^vitlI  a  single  spark  of  true  life  in  them,  could 
be  kept  (juietly  toiling-  for  men  they  called  masters, 
while  those  very  masters  were  exerting  every  nerve  to 
esta1>lisli  an  empire  of  which  the  perpetuity  of  bondage 
should  be  the  chief  corner-st(me.  Yet,  so  it  has  been. 
E(pially  mistaken  were  the  peojde  of  the  South  in  calcu- 
lating upon  fric;nds  at  the  North  to  arrest  the  war  at  the 
very  outset.  It  was  their  full  belief,  that  they  had  such 
a  host  of  cordial  sympathizers  in  the  border  states,  and 
even  in  New  Jersey,  New  York,  and  New  England,  that 
it  would  be  im[)0ssible  for  the  armies  of  the  Union  to 
strike  a  single  effective  blow.  How  could  our  money- 
loving  people,  said  they,  give  up  a  traffic  in  which  King- 
Cotton  figured  so  largely,  and  which  was  making  so 
many  merchants  and  manufacturers  rich  I  But  these 
illusions  have  been  rudely  swept  away,  on  the  one  side 
as  well  as  on  the  other,  and  it  is  perhaps  matter  of 
thanksgiving  for  all  concerned  to  realize  that  it'  is  so. 
Many  a  fog  has  been  cleared  off  by  the  repeated  tempests 
of  the  battle-field,  never  to  settle  upon  us  again,  it  is  to 
be  hoped,  for  generations  to  come. 

Let  me  name  another  lesson  which  loyal  men,  the 
land  over,  are  rapidly  learning,  and  it  is  to  look  upon 
the  institution  of  negro  slavery  in  its  only  true  liglit. 
So  long  as  the  South  itself  was  content  with  privileges 
already    enjoyed,    and    made    no    encroachments    and 


16  .  KEASONS    FOK    THANKSGIVING. 

indulged  in  ii<>  ilireats,  nineteen-twenti(4lis  nf  the  Lest 
people  <»t  tlic  X<»rtli  telt  IxMiiid  to  ite  silent,  tlioiiji^h  it 
was  ot  necessity  the  silence  oi  j^riet  ami  tears.  The 
responsihility,  more  or  less,  was  not  on  ns,  and  we  could 
not  rudely  linrst  the  l)onds  of"  a  solemn  covenant  to  make 
an  onset  on  the  peace  of  those  whom  many  a  IwiIIowcmI 
tradition  tauoht  ns  to  ref>'ard  as  iiiends.  Slavery  we 
considered  as  stnnething  local  and  munii-ipal,  to  ))e  suf- 
fered wliere  it  was,  if  so  its  patrons  determined,  hut  not 
to  he  spread  over  the  land,  with  the  pi-ivileoe  of  reducing- 
every  square  mile  into  sul)serviency  to  itself.  But  we 
have  entered  u])on  a  new  era,  in  i-eference  to  the  colored 
man,  and  it  has  l)een  opened,  mark  the  mysterious  prov- 
idence of  (iod,  by  the  very  men  who  meant  not  so,  neither 
did  their  heart  tliink  so.  Not  that  we  intend  to  become 
constitution-breakers,  and  do  evil  that  good  may  come, 
but  how  altered  is  the  face  of  things.  It  is  a  solemn 
fact,  whether  contemplated  with  [deasure  or  with  pain, 
that  two  or  three  years  of  war  liave  changed  more 
minds  in  reference  to  the  condition  of  this  unlia})})y 
people,  than  half  a  century  before  did.  The  thing  is 
done,  and,  what  is  more,  the  South  has  done  it,  and  done 
it  in  opposition  to  every  sort  of  entreaty  and  remon- 
strance. Many  a  wealthy  man  In  Kentucky,  Missouri. 
Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  as  well  as  Maryland  and 
Western  Virginia,  has  Ijeen  heard  to  say,  "Well,  if  it 
has  come  to  thi?;,  that  slavery  or  tlie  countrv  must  i)erisli. 
then  perish  slavery,  root  and  brancii."'  G<>d  is  working- 
out,    in    his   own    wonderful    way,    a   solution    of    the 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  17 

mighty  problem,  and  our  part  is  to  stand  still  and  see 
his  salvation.  The  poor  creatures,  even  when  called  free, 
may  be  robbed,  knocked  down  by  bludgeons,  hung  upon 
lamp  posts,  and  consumed  by  fire,  but  as  sure  as  there  is 
justice  in  heaven,  these  savage  cruelties  will  hasten  on 
the  arrival  of  a  brighter  day. 

Such  are  some  of  the  ideas  impressed  upon  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  minds  l^y  the  progress  of  the  war,  and 
who  will  say  they  are  not  likely  to  remain  ?  It  is  im- 
possil3le  to  tell  what  a  day,  much  less,  what  a  month,  or 
a  year  may  bring  forth,  but  thus  much  is  certain,  it  will 
be  hard  to  recede,  or  fall  again  into  practical  indifference 
as  to  these  grand  fundamental  principles  which  must 
affect  the  welfare  of  this  nation  through  all  future  time. 
Points  have  been  secured,  eminences  occupied,  vantage 
ground  gained,  from  which  things  will  be  looked  upon 
in  new  lights,  and  seen  under  new  and  better  aspects. 
No  change  of  administration,  no  fresh  combination  of 
parties,  no  curious  freak  of  political  lioroscoping,  will  be 
likely  to  turn  back  the  nation's  sun-dial,  for  either  fifteen 
or  five  years. 

3.  Positive  victories,  which  we  hope  will  tend  to  restore 
the  blessings  oi  peace  to  our  distracted  country,  have  been 
gained. 

This  is  the  end  which  every  good  and  true  man  must 
desire,  and  the  attainment  of  it,  upon  any  just  and  ])roper 
basis,  would  fill  the  land  with  a  universal  outburst  of 
thanksgiving.  Not  only  are  our  leading  statesmen  la- 
boring to  secure  an  object  on  every^  account  so  important, 
3 


18  REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

but  it  is  tlie  l)uiMleii  of  ten  tliousaiid  prayers  offered  ii]) 
from  tlie  saered  desk;  it  is  tlie  rieli  hooii  entreated  uf 
God  at  niillions  of  family  altars,  and,  in  closets  witliont 
number,  it  is  soug'lit  as  a  l)lessino-  of  almost  ])riceless 
value.  The  Countiy  is  agitated  and  needs  rest;  the 
sword  is  drawn,  but  why  should  it  devour  forever  I  There 
are  thousands  of  desoLite  firesides  alreadv,  JUid  who  can 
wish  them  multiphed  i  It  is  solely  with  a  view  to  the 
returning  quiet  and  tranquillity  of  this  great  and  mighty 
nation,  that  we  can  hear  of  success  gained,  amidst  the 
smoke,  and  carnage,  and  death,  of  dismantled  forts,  and 
sunken  sliips,  and  sLiughtered  multitudes,  with  expres- 
sions of  ofratitude  to  God.  The  result  caimot  be  secured 
in  any  other  way,  it  would  seem,  and  if  })eace  is  ever 
enjoyed  among  us  again,  it  must  be  purchased,  sad  to 
say,  with  blood. 

There  are  those,  ^vho  either  cannot  or  will  not  make  a 
distinction  here,  and  l)ecause  we  thank  God  for  victory, 
they  affirm  that  we  delight  in  seeing  the  land  filled  with 
desolated  hal ntations  and  new  made  graves.  Let  me  set 
such  people  right,  by  a  reference  to  the  late  Conmiodore 
Foote,  a  name  which  will  be  repeated  in  all  coming  time 
as  that  of  a  man  who  knew  how  to  combine  patriotism 
and  piety,  and  wliose  loyalty  to  the  flag  of  his  country 
never  led  him  into  disloyalty  to  the  government  of 
God.  I  love  to  think  of  the  gallant  man,  standing  fear- 
lessly on  the  deck  of  his  vessel,  amidst  a  hail-storm  of 
shell  and  ball,  but  I  love  even  more  to  tliinlv  of  him,  as 
su})plying  the  place  of  a  tardy  preacher,  rather  than  have 


REASONS    FOE    THANKSGIVIISG.  19 

the  people  go  away  unfed  with  the  bread  of  life.  On 
one  occnsion,  just  Itefore  the  actual  breaking  out  of  hos- 
tilities, the  Commodore  attended  a  religious  service,  held 
with  special  reference  to  the  state  of  our  public  affairs, 
and  was  asked  to  offer  the  concluding  prayer.  After 
presenting  petition  upon  petition,  to  the  Father  of  mer- 
cies, that  he  would  spare  the  land  the  horrors  of  civil 
war,  if  consistent  with  his  holy  will,  he  closed  with  these 
memorable  words.  "If  thy  purposes  cannot  otherAvise 
be  accomplished,  let  the  sword,  O  Almighty  God,  have 
its  way."  The  war  hastened  the  noble  Commander  to 
his  better  home  in  heaven,  Ijut  his  memory  is  embalmed 
in  myriads  of  grateful  hearts,  and  will  be  fragrant  so 
lonof  as  the  sun  and  moon  endure. 

Why  may  not  a  Christian  minister  speak  of  victories 
on  the  field  of  battle,  and  speak  of  them,  to  a  Christian 
people,  yea,  and  speak  of  them,  as  matters  of  devout 
gratitude  to  the  ruler  of  the  universe  ?  Is  there  nothing 
to  be  grateful  for  in  the  discomfiture  of  the  proud  con- 
federate legions  by  Eosecrans  in  Tennessee,  and  in  the 
expulsion  of  the  desperate  invaders  of  Pennsylvania  by 
Meade,  and  in  the  opening  of  the  great  Mississippi  to 
the  commerce  of  the  West  by  Grant,  Banks,  Farragnt 
and  Porter  I  Are  we  to  cherish  no  emotions  of  grati- 
tude, when  such  a  marauder  as  Morgan  is  caught  in 
his  own  net,  and  sent  off  with  his  whole  stafi'  to  prison, 
as  liostages  for  tlie  proper  treatment  of  better  men  ? 
June  closed  upon  us  with  clouds  of  almost  midnight 
darkness,  may  not  good  people  rejoice  and  give  thanks 


20  KEASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

for  tlie  liglit  wliicli  l)eanipd  out  <i\cr  tlic  land  as  July 
opened  '  For  one,  1  am  free  t(»  .say,  that  I  liave  not  so 
read  the  song  of  Moses  at  the  Red  Sea,  or  the  inspiriting 
notes  of  tlie  martial  poet  David,  nor  have  I  so  read  the 
memoirs  of  our  own  revolutionary  struggle,  embracing 
a  galaxy  of  fair  names,  both  in  church  and  state,  such 
as  the  sun  has  seldom  looked  ujion.  Hut  it  is  said,  to 
repress  our  thanksgiving  and  al)ate  our  joy,  have  not 
tlio.se  successes  been  purchased  at  the  price  of  de.solated 
habitations,  and  maimed  liml)s,  and  prematurely  made 
craves  I  Does  not  the  wife  mourn  for  her  husband 
and  the  father  of  her  helpless  babes,  and  the  mother  for 
the  son  on  whose  arm  she  IiojkhI  to  lean  in  lier  old  age, 
and  the  blushing  maiden  for  him  who  told  her  of  the 
happy  days  they  would  have  together  when  the  strife 
should  cease  ?  All  this  is  true,  and  true  to  an  extent 
which  no  eye  but  that  of  God  can  see.  But  yet,  it  may 
be  affirmed  with  no  fear  of  successful  contradiction, 
that  the  price,  large  as  it  is,  is  not  too  large  to  pay  for 
the  sought  for  blessing.  Man  has  something  to  do  in 
the  world  besides  merely  building  a  house,  and  rearing 
a  family,  and  making  a  will,  and  lying  down  in  the 
grave.  You  reduce  him  to  a  condition  of  littleness  and 
insignificance,  if  you  disjoin  his  heart  from  the  land  of 
his  fathers'  sepulchres,  and  the  government  which  pro- 
tects him,  and  the  church  where  he  worships. 

All  this,  I  admit,  is  to  be  valued  mainly  because  of 
its  anticipated  connection  with  the  return  of  peace ;  but 
in  the  mean  time  attendant  benefits  are  secured  of  great 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  21 

importance.  Not  to  dwell  on  other  things  which  must 
occur  to  every  thoughtful  mind,  is  it  nothing  that  the 
hammer  of  the  auctioneer  in  human  blood  and  bones  is 
no  lonofer  heard  to  fall  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  that 
Liberia  and  Hayti  are  recognized  as  kingdoms  of  the 
earth,  that  every  foot  of  the  territory  of  the  country  yet 
to  be  occupied,  is  to  be  held  sacred  for  the ,  abode  of 
freemen,  and  above  all,  and  more  than  all,  that  the  idea 
is  at  length  admitted,  that  man  is  a  man,  without  respect 
to  the  color  of  his  skin.  Is  it  not  well  to  know  at  last, 
that  God  has  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men,  and 
that  all  have  one  Father  and  one  Saviour  1  These  points, 
thank  God,  are  secured,  and  who  will  venture  to  affirm 
that  they  are  not  the  product  of  seed  which  nothing  but 
the  storm  of  war  could  cause  to  germinate  t  Let  peo- 
ple judge  as  they  may  about  the  expediency  of  some  of 
the  measures  to  put  down  rebellion,  the  hour  is  gone 
by,  not  to  return  again,  when  the  discussion  of  such 
topics  will  be  hindered  whenever  and  wherever  it  is 
deemed  expedient. 

Still,  the  question  is  asked,  and  asked  with  an  air  of 
triumph,  what  has  the  Administration  done  in  thirty 
months,  with  all  its  boundless  appliances,  to  terminate 
the  quarrel  ?  Less,  it  must  be  admitted  in  reply,  less 
than  might  have  been  reasonably  expected,  and  much 
less  than  they  would  have  done  had  not  our  armies 
been  sometimes  entrusted  to  unfaithful  and  mcompetent 
hands,  and  especially  had  not  the  wheels  of  government 
often  been  clogged  by  men  in  loyal  States,  with  disloyal 


22  KEASONS    KOK    TIIANKSCJIVINO. 

hearts.  It  is  distressinj^-  to  s;i\  tliis,  l>ut  (nitli  impels  ine 
to  snv  it.  Let  not  tlw  clainor  of  mere!  impatience  of 
spoedv  resnlts,  or  the  animosity  Irll  Inr  tlic  I'resident  or 
his  Cal)inet,  close  our  cnes  to  tliiii«'s  as  thev  actuallv 
are.  AVhen  the  war  bc^'an,  we  had  neither  an  armv 
nor  navy,  nor  treasury;  a  debt  <»t"a  luindnjd  millions  of 
dollars  had  Ixhmi  incnrnMf  in  a  timn  of  profound  ]ieace, 
eleven  states  openly  unfurled  the  Hag  of  insurrection 
while  four  more  were  held  in  doubt  which  side  to  take, 
and  such  was  the  bitterness  of  feeling*  towards  Abraham 
Lincoln,  that  he  had  to  go  through  Baltimore,  on  his 
way  to  Washington,  in  disguise,  to  avoid  the  dirk  of 
the  assassin.  It  was  loudly  and  boastfully  declared, 
that  the  new  government  should  never  be  inaugurated, 
come  what  might.  15ut,  behold,  what  has  God  wrought  \ 
The  four  doubtful  States  are  confirmed  in  their  prefer- 
ence for  the  old  Union,  five  of  those  which  joined  the 
Confederacy  are  controlled  by  the  presence  of  powerful 
armies,  and  strong  fortresses  and  footholds  are  possessed 
in  four  more,  reducing  the  area  of  actual  rebellion  to 
less  than  one  third  of  what  it  was  at  first.  In  the  mean 
time  we  have  built  up  a  navy  able  to  compete  with  that 
of  the  mightiest  potentate  on  earth,  and  have  an  army 
ecpial  to  any  emergency. 

If  this,  then,  be  true  history,  and  if  it  be  admitted 
that  our  national  life  and  honor  are  Av<u'lh  preserving, 
we  surely  can  find  reason  for  tlic  licarlicst  ascri[)tions  of 
praise  unto  God.  Only  let  the  government  go  on  with 
the  advantage  which  mistakes  and  reverses  have  given, 


REASONS    FOR   THANKSGIVING.  2 


o 


in  dependence  on  the  blessing  of  heaven,  and  what  may 
we  not  hope  for  in  a  twelve  month  to  come  I  With  the 
Confederacy  as  such,  we  have  nothing-  in  the  world  to 
do,  hut  with  the  States  composing  it,  we  may  expect  to 
accomplish  much.  If  all  auguries  do  not  fail,  it  w^ould 
not  be  at  all  surprising  to  tind  North  Carolina,  Louisiana 
and  even  Mississippi,  soon  following  the  lead  of  Western 
Virginia,  and  Missouri,  to  seek  repose  in  the  bosom  of 
a  Union  from  which  they  never  had  an  earthly  reason 
to  withdraw.  When  that  day  comes^  the  few  remaining 
o-uif  States  may  be  dealt  with  and  done  with  as  well  con- 
sidered policy  shall  judge  wisest  and  best. 

There  is  therefore  nothing  left  us  to  do,  but  go  for- 
ward, and  put  down  the  rebellion  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  and  in  the  most  effectual  possible  way.  How 
can  we  falter  now,  when  God  has  so  manifestly  answered 
our  prayers,  and  our  brethren  in  the  field  call  upon  us 
in  tones  of  deep  and  tender  earnestness,  to  share  with 
them  the  sufferings  and  the  glory  of  bringing  the  quarrel 
to  a  speedy  close.  It  is  the  work,  as  I  believe  in  my 
inmost  soul,  which  God  gives  us  to  do,  and  to  pause  in 
it  would  prove  us  recreant  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
land,  and  of  the  world.  We  have  put  our  hand  to  the 
plow,  not  because  we  delight  in  the  scenes  of  carnage 
and  desolation,  which  always  follow  in  the  track  of  war, 
but  because  necessity  is  laid  upon  us,  and  every  con- 
sideration that  can  be  addressed  to  pious  and  jiatri- 
otic  hearts,  says,  go  forward  until  tlie  last  vestige  of 
rebeUion  is  wiued  out,  and  the  Union  restored  in  all  its 

1. 


24  KEASONS    FOR    TIIANK.^OIVING. 

former  glory  and  power.  It  is  u  burden  imposed  upon 
us,  in  tlie  righteous  jjrovidonfc  of  (rod,  and  posterity 
will  utter  no  blessing  on  our  name,  if  we  do  not  bear  it 
manfully.  We  owe  it  to  tiie  welfare  of  tiie  disloyal 
States  themselves,  now  almost  utterly  impoverished  and 
ruined,  to  hasten  the  blessed  consunnnation  l)v  everv 
effort  which  strength  and  courage  shall  enable  us  to  put 
forth. 

To  pause,  at  the  present  juncture,  and  waste  golden 
opportunities  in  harsh  and  indiscriminate  condemnation 
of  men  and  measures,  is  only  to  prolong  the  conflict. 
It  is  unquestionably  our  privilege,  as  American  citizens, 
to  disapprove  of  what  we  honestly  deem  wrong,  and 
palsied  be  the  hand  that  would  strike  this  privilege 
down,  but  let  us  not  forget  that  there  is  a  broad  distinc- 
tion between  liberty  and  anarchy.  A  lesson  has  recent- 
ly been  set  us  on  this  subject,  in  the  chief  city  of  tlie 
Union,  which  ought  to  suffice,  for  at  least  a  century. 
Ambitious  and  self-designing  men  may  learn  from  this 
new  instance,  that  they  cannot  make  harangues,  in 
which  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  nation,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  his  Cabinet,  are  abused  in  lano-uaiife  of  coarse  and 
vulgar  malignity,  unfit  to  be  repeated  in  a  bar-room, 
without  producing  a  woeful  etfect  upon  the  excitable 
nudtitude.  If  tliey  manage  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way 
themselves,  others  are  urged  on  to  roldjery^  arson,  aiul 
murder,  by  the  countenance  thus  oriven.  No  one  can 
sow  to  the  wind,  without  reaping  the  whirlwind,  and 
the  whirlwind  once  raised  and  started  on  its  desolating 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  25 

course,  may  reach  the  agitator,  as  well  as  the  quiet,  or- 
derly citizen.  Archbishop  Hughes  is  reported  to  have 
made  a  remark,  in  reference  to  the  late  riots  in  New- 
York,  which  cannot  be  too  seriously  laid  to  heart.  "The 
men,"  said  he,  "who  have  been  engaged  in  this  work  of 
desolation,  are  not  half  as  guilty  as  are  the  demagogues 
who,  night  after  night,  have  been  lately  addressing  the 
most  inflammatory  appeals  to  their  prejudices  and  pas- 
sions. " 

It  is  impossible  for  the  best  government  in  the  world 
to  satisfy  everybody,  especially  at  such  exciting  times  as 
those  now  passing  over  our  heads,  but  surely  it  is  wise 
to  gather  instruction  from  what  has  been,  in  order  to 
determine  what  will  be.  Now,  does  not  history  tell  tales 
about  the  tories  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  Hartford 
Convention  men  of  eighteen  hundred  and  twelve,  which 
might  be  read  with  profit  in  our  day  1  If  the  Country 
ever  raises  monuments  for  her  sons,  beheve  me,  it  will 
be  for  those  who  stood  by  her  in  the  hour  of  peril,  and 
preferred  her  welfare  above  their  chief  joy,  and  not  for 
those  who  deserted  her  standard,  and  sought  to  hinder 
the  enrollment  of  her  hosts.  A  few  more  well  directed 
efforts,  we  hope,  will  end  the  contest,  and  shall  we  let 
the  golden  chance  sHp,  by  stopping  to  split  hairs  on 
certain  minor  points  1  We  have  had  our  times  of  ease, 
but  now  the  command,  as  it  seems  to  me,  from  the  Lord 
of  Hosts  himself,  is,  "order  ye  the  buckler  and  shield, 
harness  the  horses,  stand  forth  with  your  helmets,  fur- 
bish the  spears,  and  put  on  the  brigandines,  and  draw 


26  REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 

near  to  battle."  There  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that  a 
united  North  would  soon  witness  a  repentant  and  re- 
turning South.  The  people  of  the  seceding  states,  as 
a  mass,  had  no  voice  in  unfurling  the  standard  of  rebel- 
lion, but  we  trust  they  Avill  soon  have  a  voice,  not  to  be 
disregarded,  in  renewing  tlieir  allegiance  to  the  Stars 
and  Stripes. 

There  is  one  encouraging  fact,  encouraging  to  the 
men  at  the  head  of  our  affairs,  as  well  as  to  those  who 
fight  our  battles,  and  it  is  that  the  ministers  of  religion 
of  all  denominations,  are  so  earnest  and  cordial  in  their 
patriotism.  Never  was  it  so  before,  at  least  to  the  same 
extent.  With  a  unanimity  perfectly  surprising,  have 
they  sent  up  to  the  Chief  Magistrate  address  upon  ad- 
dress, pledging  themselves,  before  God  and  the  people, 
to  stand  by  the  government,  in  this  anxious  hour,  and 
give  it  their  sympathies  and  prayers.  If  there  be  a  few 
dissenting  voices,  as  I  am  sorry  to  admit  there  are,  they 
are  only  the  exception  to  the  rule. 

As  for  myself  I  early  took  ground,  as  you  well  know, 
which  I  have  never  since  abandoned,  and  through  the 
whole  struggle  I  have  never  lost  hope  as  to  ihe  result. 
Though  the  rebellion  is  gigantic  in  its  dimensions,  and 
waged  with  the  desperate  fury  of  men  who  are  fully 
aware  that  failure  will  consign  them  to  the  ignominy  of 
an  Arnold,  it  will,  with  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God, 
be  put  down,  and  upon  its  ruins  will  a  reinvigorated 
Union  arise,  to  exert  a  more  blessed  influence  than  ever 
upon  the  destinies  of  the  world.     AVitli  heart  within,  and 


4 
REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING.  27 

God  above,  there  is  nothing  to  fear.  But  let  the  issue  be 
what  it  may,  I  am  resolved,  as  I  shall  obtain  help  from 
heaven,  to  adhere  to  the  fortunes  of  my  country  to  the 
very  last.  If  I  leave  nothing  else  to  my  descendants, 
they  shall  never  have  it  to  say  that  their  father  dishon- 
ored his  gray  hairs  by  yielding  to  the  demands  of  men, 
who,  in  the  very  face  of  the  most  solemn  pledges  and 
oaths,  are  seeking  to  destroy  a  government  which  never 
did  any  thing  else  than  shed  blessing  on  the  heads  of 
its  citizens. 

In  the  mean  time  be  careful  to  do  nothing,  by  word  or 
act,  which  may  tend  to  engender  bitter  feelings  among 
loyal  men,  to  whatever  political  party  they  happen  to 
belong.  Some  of  the  bravest  and  ablest  defenders  of 
the  country  have  been  from  the  ranks  of  the  so-called 
opposers  of  the  administration.  They  do  not  style 
themselves  Eepublicans,  and  yet  on  the  vessel's  deck, 
and  on  the  field  of  battle,  they  have  proved  as  firm  as 
rocks  for  the  nation's  honor,  and  the  preservation  of  the 
nation's  boundaries.  Give  all  such  men  your  hands  and 
embrace  them  as  good  and  tried  friends.  Insist  upon 
no  condition  but  love  to  the  union,  and  a  determination, 
at  all  hazards,  to  prevent  its  dismemberment,  before 
giving  them  your  confidence.  Only  let  there  be  now 
a  long  pull,  and  a  strong  pull,  and  a  pull  all  together, 
and  we  shall  soon  have  occasion  to  say,  with  an  emphasis 
to  which  the  late  signal  victories  have  furnished  a  happy 
prelude.  "  The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  is  exalted,  the 
right  hand  of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly." 


28 


REASONS    FOR    THANKSGIVING. 


This  will  give  the  wise  and  good  of  all  lands  fresh 
confidence  in  free  institutions,  and  from  one  end  of  the 
world  to  the  other,  will  arise  a  voice  like  the  sound  of 
many  waters,  Lotig  live  the  Republic  af  the  United  States ! 
Amen  and  amen. 


I 


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